March 29, 2016

French artist Nicolas Gorodetzky (Week-end Millionnaire, Season) just released his first solo record "Call Me Back". He offers us a collection of great songs inspired by the music the 70's such as America, CSN&Y, The Doobie Brothers… "Call Me Back" is the result of many years of hard work, experiences and memories.

Rob Meany will be releasing his first solo album on May 1st. The new 12-song album, entitled "Ferris Wheels Unbound", will be available for purchase exclusively on his website in CD format or as a digital download.

"Ferris Wheels Unbound" is a collection of acoustic guitar and piano-based tunes mostly accompanied by the Laurels String Quartet and the occasional jazz trio. The new album was produced by Andy Thompson (Jeremy Messersmith, Natalie Lovejoy, Kevin Steinman).

In celebration, there's an album release show in Minneapolis: Sunday, May 1, 2016. "Rob Meany Album Release Show", Icehouse 2528 Nicollet Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN Doors at 6:30 pm / Show at 7:00 PM - All Ages Tickets: $8 in advance. $8 at the door. Tickets at www.icehousempls.com

Theander Expression is the AOR project by Swedish guitar player Andrée Theander, who started to work with the first album in 2012 and released it one year later.

It was called ”Strange Nostalgia” after one of the songs and got critically acclaimed around the world of melodic rock in 2013. Just over two years later the follow-up is finally here and it carries the title ”Wonderful Anticipation”, as a kind of an antonym to the frequently misinterpreted debut title.

Andrée has been producing and recording most of the album at the Theander studio, playing all the guitars and handles also most of the bass and keyboards, some percussion, drum programming and vocals.

The record was mixed and mastered by Thomas ”Plec” Johansson at Panic Room Studios in the end of 2015 and the result is another high class rock record with classic melodies and a modern production, ready to hit the market in 2016.

March 17, 2016

For years, Thierry has been musically active and has in the meantime established an in- ternational reputation, above all in the US music scene.

Thierry Condor has German-Italian roots and lives in Switzerland. He possesses an un- mistakeable voice and, as a studio musician, regularly takes part in international produc- tions. His fourth album ‘So Close’ will be released in March 2016.

The German-Italian love story of Thierry Condor’s parents began in French-speaking Switzerland and the artist grew up multilingual. Later on, he took his birth name as his artist’s one. During his school days, the self-taught musician played guitar, drums, saxo- phone and a piano he had restored himself. Italian songwriters and the Beatles were his constant companions and he developed a preference for songs whose lyrics also tell a story.

Over many professional visits to the USA, Thierry Condor became an enthusiast for West Coast Pop, R&B and jazz. He took singing lessons in Chicago and continued his training after his return to Switzerland at the Jazz School Lucerne.

In his fourth album ‘So Close’ Thierry Condor once again draws upon the U.S. West Coast Pop of the 1980s, but adds new flavour to the style. His personality is evident on the en- tire album and he speaks to the listener directly; his singing profile has become even more distinct and original. Thierry Condor is married, a father of four and lives with his family in Switzerland.

In the late 80's keyboardist and songwriter extraordinaire Mark Mangold (Valhalla, American Tears, Touch, Michael Bolton), after the experience with Fran Cosmo (who later went on to become the Boston singer) met, through a mutual friend/songwriter, Al Fritsch coming out from the experience with the band TZR.

Mark had the chance to play him some songs he was working on and he was completely blown away by Al's voice and they eventually decided to create a band. The duo started very soon to write and record some demos that eventually earned them the deal with CBS. In their first album the duo was helped by a good deal of friends : Tony Bruno, Bob and Bruce Kulick (Kiss), Kenny Aronoff, Benny Mardones, Fiona and many others. The record was just being released when there was a big re-organization at CBS and the band found itself with no support from the record company new president.

Meanwhile the record was being very well received, especially in Europe, but the band couldn't get any support from the record company. That's why Mark and Al decided to be released from the deal and immediately got the interest of Music For Nations who signed the band and brought over D,SS to England to tour in support of the band FM. Playing live, brought Mark and Al to write songs that were more aggressive and would work in that environment (for instance "Drivin' Wheel", "Pedal to the Metal" (D,SS's "Deep Purple" derived set opener), "Veil Of Tears", etc. They also played "Can't Get Enough" (by Bad Company) which went over very well as a last encore and which ended up on the second record.

Coming back to the States D,SS immediately began working on "Drivin' Wheel" the second CD. The band toured extensively in support of FM (once again in UK) and UFO (in Germany). Coming home the duo began to work on more songs and eventually recorded "Excelerator" which was a more eclectic CD, ranging from the instrumental title track, to the bluesy "Let It Ride". After having been on a hiatus for quite a long time Al and Mark still wrote and worked together even if there was no record to work on. This brought finally to the release on Frontiers - during 1998 - of a "Best of" album which included 5 brand new songs.

Mark Mangold in the meanwhile became involved in several other project (most notably the super-group The Sign, who became the melodic rock sensation in the year 2000) and had the chance to re-focus on the Drive, She Said project only during the year 2001, when he joined again with Al writing some unbelievable and one of his most varied albums ever: "Real Life", after which the duo went on a hiatus again.

In 2014, after Mangold performed with Touch at the Firefest, he was eager to rock again. So he reached out to Frontiers and the label willingly agreed to work on another Drive, She Said album which could showcase again the amazing talents of the Mangold/Fritsch duo. “Pedal to the Metal" is the final result: a melodic rock gem, guaranteed to please all melodic rock fans. The band is set to appear at the Frontiers Rock Festival in Trezzo in April 2016. You’re in for a threat!

"A varied blend of musical styles, some brand new songs, a co-write with my pal Bonnie Raitt, a few from the vaults, and one cover song by Burt Bacharach & Elvis Costello, shaped by the music that has influenced me over the years. Anything and everything under the sun. Hope you enjoy."

Atlanta-born and Georgia-raised musician Caroline Aiken began her career in 1968, performing with a rock band called Fathertime in Long Island, NY. She honed her skills as a songwriter and solo artist during the late 70’s, moving from busking the streets of Seattle to opening for well known acts such as Doc Watson, Bonnie Raitt, David Bromberg, Muddy Waters, and later, Little Feat, Randy Newman, John Prine, Arlo Guthrie, Richie Havens, Derek Trucks and many more.

After years of touring throughout the US, South America and Europe, she moved back to Atlanta in the mid 80’s where her bluesy voice, masterful finger picking guitar style, and hypnotizing stage presence anchored the city’s acoustic and folk scene and influenced up and coming artists like the Indigo Girls and Shawn Mullins.

Caroline Aiken has released 9 albums to date, with the first one, 1988’s ”Line Of Vision”, featuring Bonnie Raitt on guitars and vocals on 2 tracks. Her 7th recording, ”Are We There Yet, Mama?”, released in 2005, garnered a first draft ballot nomination for a Grammy Award, and as an artist she received 2 New South CocaCola Awards Nominations, for Best Vocalist and Best Acoustic Guitarist. She has headlined Kerrville, 14 times since 1995, and in 2010 with The Indigo Girls, Falcon Ridge and High Sierra festivals, played Bumbershoot, Music Midtown, the GA Music Hall Of Fame mainstage (with the B52’s and Mother’s Finest) and Otis Redding Songwriting Camp. Caroline has also coheadlined The Mendocino Music Festival along with Ruthie Foster, and is a regular attendee at the annual Folk Alliance Conference, as a performer, presenter and educator. When she’s not touring or recording, Caroline also teaches her workshop 'Zen & The Art Of Performance' at music camps nationally and internationally.

A perpetual touring artist, Caroline continues to play shows regularly throughout the US, Europe, South America and the UK, including numerous charitable events for at risk children, animals, and environmental awareness. She’s been called an 'underground legend' (Santa Cruz Goodtimes), and 'the real deal' (Performing Songwriter Magazine), but perhaps the most accurate quote ever uttered was given by Artichoke Music in Portland, OR, 'Spending time with Caroline is as unforgettable as it is inspirational. She’s truly at the heart of America’s folk roots movement and has the skills along with life experience we all desire as entertainers'.

Dave Insley has done it again. This is old-style country crooning from a distinctive and original voice from Austin, Texas. Dave’s new disc showcases his quirky, heartfelt narratives and smoky baritone, and features the musical muscle of some of Austin’s finest players. From the opening lines of “Drinkin’ Wine And Staring At The Phone” through the closer, “Everything Must Go,” it ain’t nothin’ but a party, y’all, with Rick Shea, Redd Volkaert and Danny B Harvey on guitar, Matt Hubbard on piano, harmonica and trombone, and special guest vocalists Kelly Willis, Elizabeth McQueen and Dale Watson.

"Just The Way That I Am" is Insley’s 4th solo release, and his first since 2008’s "West Texas Wine". His artistic maturity and the clarity of his ideas shine through, carried by the easy cadence and quality performance Insley is known for. Highlights include the honky-tonk weeper “Win-Win Situation, For Losers”, co-written with Rick Shea and Paul Lacques (I See Hawks in LA) and performed here as a duet with Kelly Willis, “Arizona Territory 1904”, a re-telling of a Marty Robbins classic, and “We’re All Here Together Because of You”, a tender, upbeat homage to his wife and family.

Insley’s modern voice and old-fashioned approach have earned him a singular position in the broad field of Americana music. This is thinking man’s country, intelligent, thought provoking story-songs that grow more satisfying with each listen.

"My name is Marcus Eaton and I am a musician. I was born in Idaho and began playing guitar when I was nine. I grew up in a musical family and found inspiration in the outdoors and mountains where I was born.

I have always written my own songs and played my original music in various incarnations. One of my first bands was signed to a label in 2002. We released one album on the label and I have been releasing music independently since then.

To date, I have recorded and released six original albums and I played, wrote and sang on David Crosby's most recent album 'Croz'.

Music is my passion and I have worked diligently to create sounds that are beautiful, inspiring, soulful, and melodic which connect us to the parts of ourselves that matter most.

At present, I primarily play solo and incorporate a variety of influences to create a unique sonic landscape using looping, instrumental effects and different performance styles.

My latest album 'Versions Of The Truth' was released in the U.S. last year and I am very excited for you to hear it. I look forward to seeing you at one of my shows soon."